A patch in the field chock-full of daisies this place, a favorite, where I slipped off to dream twirling and giggling all alone I would dance pretending that I was as free as a butterfly silently flitting from here to there, admiring the flowers and I would spin until the ground spun out of control.

Stumbling until my legs I could no longer control sprawled on my back surrounded by daisies thinking they were the prettiest of all the flowers in my dizziness I slipped into a wondrous dream wings and antenna were part of me; I was a butterfly swirling and twirling I would fly around and dance.

There are those who insist that butterflies don't dance and will suggest that my imagination is out of control but my mind still drifts back when I see a butterfly to my childhood days and that field chock-full of daisies reminiscing of the times when I went there to dream and carried home to Mother, a bouquet of flowers.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of flowers wind, warm and soft, made them sway and dance once again falling into the trance of my dream leaving adulthood behind, relinquishing control from flower to flower in my field of daisies I spread my arms, twirling, flying like a butterfly.

I told my Mother all about the butterfly while she searched for a vase for her flowers then she'd arrange my bouquet of daisies and smile and laugh when I showed her the dance even though I knew she would maintain control her eyes said, "Let me loose, once again to dream."

One day she told me of her childhood dream to my surprise she too, held in awe the butterfly this time relinquishing all her control stories spilled out about her fields of flowers and how she had spent hours perfecting the dance for that moment we were surrounded by daisies.

A child's gift of daisies are a dream to cherish twirling together you dance as the butterfly flies with just a handful of flowers, release your control.

For my daughter, Stephanie ...

The Best is Yet to Come

For such a long time I'd waitedand the day was finally here,I was officially a big kidand of school I had no fear.

But the best is yet to comemy mother would always say,it will be here before you know itnow run along and play.

Of course I didn't believe hernothing could ever compare,until I felt the butterfliesaroused by a boy's blushing stare.

But the best is yet to comemy mother continued to say,it will be here before you know itthe days are drifting away.

Then suddenly I had reachedthe best day of my life,for the man that I loved so dearlyhad asked me to be his wife.

But the best is yet to comemy mother proceeded to say,it will be here before you know ityour love will show you the way.

And then one day it happenedmy life was so complete,our baby was totally wonderfulfrom her head right down to her feet.

But the best is yet to comeI expected my mother to say,instead she hummed a sweet lullabyas she wiped her own tears away.

The little girl that I held in my armswill grow up way too soon,I hope I can give her everythingincluding the stars and the moon.

But the best is yet to comeI will assure her every day,it will be here before you know itmy love will show her the way.

For anyone who has rocked a child ....

....... If this Chair Could Speak .......

I've held a child and rocked him to sleeplistened to prayers, his soul to keep,became his horse in the noon day sunpretending he was a cowboy just for fun,

Rocked his mother in rhythm as she criedsoaked up her tears and held them with prideweathering the wood that makes me wholeabsorbing the spirit of her loving soul.

Adjusting to age and mood as you growcontent to listen while you rock to and froheartache and laughter, tell me your storyrelax and get cozy, let me free your worry.

I've rocked in the twilight after a long hard dayrelieved the tension, felt it melting awayawakened with the sun and morning dewslowly sipping coffee freshly brewed.

As long as I'm able for you I'll be strongfaithful and loving to whom I belongrock your baby, rock with delightin unison we'll move both day and night.

Share your troubles, in sunshine or rainwe'll rock together to ease your painan inanimate object perhaps that's truebut in the end, I'm always there for you.

For anyone who has childhood dreams ....

Childhood Dreams

A fairy princess in castle stonedreams of a knight to call her ownon a mission to rescuethis maiden in distresshis journey will endwith happinessafter allit isherdreamto bea princessswept off her feeton a big white steedand well, you know the restknight passes the dragons lairhis journey long, put to the testslays the evil their kingdom will reignall because she waves her magic wandthe princess thinks she is alonebut, a fairy hides awaybehind a column of stoneand grants to the princessher wishes and dreamsfor happinessthe childplaysandeach daythe storynever changesher castle appearsa knight slays the dragonthe fairy watches and waitsfrom behind the shadows of stonefor the princess soon will spread her wings

and fly away... from childhood dreams ...

For my Son, Kyle ...

The Sandman Song

Cradling him gently in my armssinging a lullaby to calm his fearswords bringing forth a messagethat would follow him throughout the years.

...The sandman is coming my baby...close your eyes and rest for the night...he'll sprinkle about his magic sand...and bring you dreams of heavenly delight.

Before I knew it he was too big to cradlewe still rocked while he sat on my lapI continued to sing his lullabycalming him before his nap.

...The sandman is coming my little one...so much energy for one small boy...he'll sprinkle about his magic sand...and bring you dreams of your favorite toy.

Though he still looked to his mother for comfortsoon I knew that my son would be growntoo busy to hear me singingwhile trying to make a life of his own.

...The sandman is coming to visit you...welcome him, son, if you will...he'll sprinkle about his magic sand...and bring you dreams if you'll let him still.

My son now a man, looked troubledit showed when he walked through the doorseems the woman that he loves had hurt himand I held him in my arms once more.

...The sandman comes to one and all...regardless of the age we are...he'll sprinkle about his magic sand...and bring you dreams from the farthest star.

I wanted to sing him the sandman songand take away all his problems and painbut moms know that silence is sometimes bestwithin my memories his song will remain.

For every young girl who tries to be the young woman her parents thinks she should be, but she just isn't ready yet ....

This is the Me ...

My dresser's not cluttered, it's not a messbut Mom always tells me, "Clean it, today!"Now if I did that, and if I left it that way,there'd be nothing to do, nothing to play.I might as well sit on my bed in a dress.

I could spray my hair with that gooey stuffor escape to my tree house, and mold some clay,It's time for her to grow up, I often hear them say -more lipstick and jewelry soon coming my way.Sometimes I just want to scream, "Enough!"

My sister thinks that I'm halfway there, and maybe it's time that I try it "their" way,but if I did that, I'd feel like a glob of claymolded into someone, I'd rather not say,but, she's always telling me to brush my hair.

Mom walks in the room, and glares at me -after saying that I should run along and play.Tell me which daughter I should be today,a little more grown up, or a kid, either way -this is the me, I wish she could see.

For my son, Eric ...

...This Many...

Look at him standing therehis world filled with joyall he needs to worry aboutis where to find his favorite toy.

...my Mommy puts the toothpaste on......she says that I'm too little......but I can climb up here all by myself......'cause I'm almost.....this many...

I wish the world was in better shapeand a better place in which to liveby the time his children have childrenthere will be nothing left to give.

...Pretty soon I'll be as big as Daddy......then nobody will have to help me...... gett'n bigger and stronger......'cause I'm almost.....this many...

Adorable as he brushes his teethhe's getting quite big alreadywon't be long before he's all grown uppreparing to meet his steady.

...why does Mommy keep look'n at me?......I'm big enough not to fall......not making a mess either...... 'cause I'm almost.....this many...

Watching his independence growcontinuing each day to amaze meI know he can do it all by himselfafter all, he's almost...this many.

No reading, writing or arithmeticNo being told to sit up straight,just crickets chirping beneath the rocksand mud squishing between my toes,bologna and cheese, and potato chips,with a purple kool-aid mustache.

No errands to run for Mom all dayNo grass to cut 'til tomorrow,just birds chirping in their nestsand squirrels that leap tree to tree -Bees are buzzing - buzz buzz buzzand butterflies flutter flower to flower.

No silly girls to make me blushNo rules to follow except my own,just me and my cat, and my cane poleand a box of worms to use for baitclouds drift by, but sitting oh-so-still,waiting for the fish to bite.

No video games, they're not for meNo regrets, carefree, no worriesJust doing what I love doing the mostand day dreamin' about today's big catchhurrying along the lane to homewith dinner on my stringer.